Poll positions

EC should have held UP polls in April

The Election Commission (EC) has laid to rest a nascent controversy over delayed state elections by setting out the timetable for the five states whose Assembly terms are coming to an end. The risks of holding this exercise are extremely high, of course, with the extra-infectious Omicron variant of Covid-19 coursing through the country, adding over 100,000 to the daily caseload from a low of 5,300-odd at the end of December. In that sense, the EC has been sensible in banning campaigns till January 15, and keeping the decision open to the circumstances. This should, at the very least, minimise